FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 13, 2023
MEDIA CONTACT: Mollie Michel
718-536-6336, mollie@sunstonestrategies.org
Clean Air Advocates are Applauding Maryland’s Move to Adopt Advanced Clean Cars II Standards
In a unanimous vote, Air Quality Control Advisory Council (AQCAC) approves a cleaner cars program that will advance consumer choice for Maryland drivers, reduce toxic vehicle emissions and protect public health.
Annapolis — Today, the Maryland Air Quality Control Advisory Council voted unanimously to recommend that the Maryland Department of Environment adopt the Advanced Clean Cars II Standards that will provide relief to Marylanders suffering daily from dirty air and the health impacts caused by transportation pollution.
Following this historic vote, Governor Wes Moore will join Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) Secretary Serena McIlwain at MDE headquarters in Baltimore at 1PM ET for an announcement regarding “Maryland’s renewed commitment to clean cars.”
Maryland would not be alone in adopting the ACC II standards. Other states in the region, including Virginia, Vermont, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Maine are among those states who have finalized or are on the path to finalization of ACC II. Washington, Oregon, and California adopted ACC II in 2022.
By setting gradually increasing sales targets so that every new light-duty vehicle sold in Maryland will be a zero-emission or hybrid vehicle by 2035, the Advanced Clean Cars II program will set the state on a path to lower vehicle emissions and a healthy transition to electric vehicles and cleaner air. Adopting ACC II in Maryland would result in reducing light-duty CO2 emissions 63% below 2021 levels in 2035, 75% for NOx emissions, 62% for PM 2.5 and 64% for SO2.
In response, advocates, policy experts, and business leaders released the following statements:
Maryland must adopt the Advanced Clean Cars II standard in order to meet its ambitious climate targets,” said Josh Tulkin, Director, Maryland Sierra Club. “The Advanced Clean Cars II standards would cut carbon pollution from passenger cars 63% by 2035. We applaud the Moore Administration for advancing this critical regulation, which will improve public health and protect the climate.”
“Rivian applauds the Air Quality Control Advisory Council for advancing common sense rules to expedite EV adoption in the state of Maryland," said Tom Van Heeke, Senior Policy Advisor, Rivian Automotive. "These rules, especially if combined with the Clean Trucks Act of 2023, will help achieve Maryland‘s climate goals and reinforce the state's position as a leader in clean transportation.”
"Maryland took an important step today by voting to adopt these clean car rules – demonstrating the state’s commitment to fighting climate change,” said Kevin Shen, Policy Analyst, Union of Concerned Scientists. “The transportation sector remains the top source of climate emissions in the state, and a top contributor to harmful air pollution, which has an inequitable impact on the health of vulnerable people in Maryland. Together with additional policies, these new rules will pave the road to zero tailpipe emissions."
"We applaud the Air Quality Control Advisory Council for acting today to get more clean vehicles on Maryland's roads," said Alli Gold Roberts, senior director, state policy, at Ceres. "The auto industry and companies across the supply chain have made it clear that zero-emission vehicles are the way of the future. An ambitious Advanced Clean Cars II rule is critical to accelerating the shift to the clean vehicle fleets companies want and need, as well as to delivering cost savings and better air quality for communities across the state."
"Adopting Advanced Clean Cars II is vital to meet Maryland’s climate and public health goals," said Ramon Palencia-Calvo, director of Maryland LCV’s program, Chispa Maryland. This is especially true for communities of color and low income communities that continue to bear the brunt of the climate burden and face higher exposure to pollution. Increasing the numbers of clean vehicles in our roads will reduce respiratory illness and hospitalizations, leading to healthier outcomes. Additionally, adopting Advanced Clean Cars II can be another opportunity to create good-paying jobs for our communities in the manufacturing and deployment of electric vehicles.”
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